Weston super Mare RNLI Lifeboat - 1900's: The Last Century
Weston super Mare RNLI Lifeboat - 1900's: The Last Century
March 17th 1962 saw a new lifeboat put into service at Weston-super-Mare, she was an 'Oakley' Class self-righter and cost £33,000. As she had been provided out of a gift from the 'Calouste Gulbenkian Foundation' she was christened 'Calouste Gulbenkian'

In May 1963 the RNLI introduced the first of its inflatable rescue boats and accordingly in May 1966 it was Weston's turn to receive one of these 'D' Class boats she was no.83 and in 1967 she was replaced by no.74. Subsequently a second 'D'Class (no.47) was sent to Weston as a second boat.
In 1970 it was decided that a conventional lifeboat would no longer be stationed at Weston.
In 1966 and 1967 the RNLI tested various high speed rescue boats 'Hatch' and 'McLachlan' types. The McLachlan was the preferred boat and was put on display at the Earl's Court Boat show in January 1970. At the end of the show this boat (number 18-004) was transferred to Weston-super-Mare. Once alterations had been made to the special launching trolley no.47 was withdrawn.

In 1973 the McLachlan was re-numbered as A-504 and 'D'Class no.74 was replaced by no.170 and in 1981 no.74 was replaced by D 282 provided by the Farnham Branch of the RNLI. This Lifeboat was used in the Bronze medal service rescue of 1975.
In 1983 A-504 was replaced by the new Atlantic 21 B-557. A-504 is now on display at the National lifeboat museum at Chatham. On 13th August of that year the new Atlantic21 was named 'Weston Centenary'

In 1989 D-282 was replaced by a new 'D' Class no.387 and in 1998 this was replaced by no.537 which has been provided for out of a gift to the institution by Mrs Kathleen Willoughby and was to be named 'Faith'